[{"id":"24","title":"Story","subCats":[{"id":"53","title":"Sponsored"},{"id":"208","title":"Podcast"}]},{"id":"155","title":"Profiles","subCats":[{"id":"27","title":"Users"},{"id":"116","title":"Contributor"}]},{"id":"157","title":"Booms"}]

[{"title":"Issues/Alcohol & Drugs","id":96},{"title":"Issues/All Issues","id":5},{"title":"Issues/Animal Welfare","id":6},{"title":"Issues/Arts & Culture","id":93},{"title":"Issues/Cost of Living","id":94},{"title":"Issues/Disability","id":90},{"title":"Issues/Discrimination","id":108},{"title":"Issues/Employment","id":97},{"title":"Issues/Environment","id":8},{"title":"Issues/First Nations","id":11},{"title":"Issues/Healthcare","id":10},{"title":"Issues/Homelessness","id":91},{"title":"Issues/Housing","id":98},{"title":"Issues/Human Rights","id":95},{"title":"Issues/LGBTQIA+","id":7},{"title":"Issues/Men's Health","id":101},{"title":"Issues/Mental Health","id":13},{"title":"Issues/Multiculturalism","id":100},{"title":"Issues/Policy","id":99},{"title":"Issues/Refugees","id":86},{"title":"Issues/Senior Citizens","id":12},{"title":"Issues/Sex","id":102},{"title":"Issues/Sustainability","id":9},{"title":"Issues/Technology","id":89},{"title":"Issues/Vaping","id":676},{"title":"Issues/Violence","id":14},{"title":"Issues/Women","id":87},{"title":"Issues/Youth","id":92}]

[{"issue":"Animal Welfare","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/stijn-te-strake-UdhpcfImQ9Y-unsplash.jpg","title":"Rejecting speciesism could save us from the climate crisis and future pandemics","id":"817"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/483\/483.png","title":"Kosciusko National Park is worth fighting for","id":"483"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/12\/12_thumb.jpg","title":"Empty The Tanks: A Movement To End Marine Mammal Captivity","id":"12"}]},{"issue":"LGBTQIA+","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/pablo-padilla-B0U_OFXXSNo-unsplash.jpg","title":"Bending the Bars marks forty years of the dicriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria","id":"786"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-02 14.31.30.png","title":"Local drag queens\u2019 identities are being continuously challenged in Tasmania","id":"666"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/491\/491.png","title":"Becoming female: Chaye's transition","id":"491"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/300\/300_thumb.jpg","title":"Read the Vibe: the fight to keep Newtown weird, safe and unapologetically queer","id":"300"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/252\/252_thumb.jpg","title":"It was a win, but at what cost?","id":"252"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/239\/239_thumb.jpg","title":"TJ's story on Transgender Day of Remembrance","id":"239"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/142\/142_thumb.jpg","title":"What would Fred Nile's gay-only nation state look like?","id":"142"}]},{"issue":"Environment","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/stijn-te-strake-UdhpcfImQ9Y-unsplash.jpg","title":"Rejecting speciesism could save us from the climate crisis and future pandemics","id":"817"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/mick image.jpg","title":"Bloody hard work: Reforms and regulations desperately needed to solve farming labour crisis","id":"784"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-07-27 14.32.19.png","title":"Big green profit machine: meet the companies making sustainability profitable\u00a0","id":"768"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/infullbloomjellyfish.png","title":"In full bloom: What jellyfish tell us about our oceans ","id":"670"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-19 15.36.50.png","title":"Climate Act Now ","id":"657"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-02-28 17.35.42.png","title":"Green New What? ","id":"654"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/539\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-03 16.56.04.png","title":"Climate action is moving at a glacial pace ","id":"589"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/438\/posts\/504\/504.jpg","title":"A Brief History of Climate Terminology","id":"504"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/498\/498.png","title":"Sewing the way to a plastic-free NSW","id":"498"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"}]},{"issue":"Sustainability","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/498\/498.png","title":"Sewing the way to a plastic-free NSW","id":"498"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/488\/488.jpg","title":"Reduce, Reuse, Reground","id":"488"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/483\/483.png","title":"Kosciusko National Park is worth fighting for","id":"483"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/454\/posts\/480\/480.jpg","title":"Urban farming creates solutions for sustainable produce","id":"480"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/476\/476.jpg","title":"Going against the flow: Making sustainable period products the norm","id":"476"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/366\/366_thumb.jpg","title":"Championing children to reduce food waste","id":"366"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/363\/363_thumb.jpg","title":"Conversations to save the planet","id":"363"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/333\/333_thumb.jpg","title":"The V-word","id":"333"}]},{"issue":"Healthcare","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Daisy and Casper at trial appointment.jpg","title":"A contentious experimental drug offers opportunity to children living with achondroplasia","id":"791"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/democracypendemic.png","title":"What does it mean to be a democracy during a pandemic?","id":"736"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-16 17.41.14.png","title":"Nathan Filer on why we must reimagine mental healthcare ","id":"593"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-25 17.27.51.png","title":"Denying Asylum Seekers Medical Treatment \u2013 the Medevac law","id":"586"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/502\/502.jpg","title":"Multicultural Care","id":"502"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/500\/500.jpg","title":"The culture of women and pain in Australia ","id":"500"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/477\/477.jpg","title":"Feeling lonely? You're not alone","id":"477"}]},{"issue":"First Nations","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-08-04 14.51.46.png","title":"Reimagining the past to shape the future: Contesting dominant narratives in Indigenous history","id":"771"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-27 15.58.44.png","title":"Yerrabingin: Bringing Indigenous thinking to food and design ","id":"663"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-11-21 11.03.53.png","title":"#JusticeForWalker cannot be divorced from Australia\u2019s colonial legacy ","id":"618"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/457\/posts\/490\/490.png","title":"Indigenous Elders ask what it will take to stop the NT fracking industry ","id":"490"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/175\/175_thumb.jpg","title":"5 young people on why Australia needs to do better","id":"175"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/220\/220_thumb.jpg","title":"Blak Markets fight against the fake Aboriginal art trade","id":"220"}]},{"issue":"Senior Citizens","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/77\/77_thumb.jpg","title":"Embracing death as a part of life: Palliative care volunteering","id":"77"}]},{"issue":"Mental Health","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/pablo-padilla-B0U_OFXXSNo-unsplash.jpg","title":"Bending the Bars marks forty years of the dicriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria","id":"786"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-07-28 11.41.10.png","title":"Mental health in injured athletes: Elle's story ","id":"769"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-16 17.41.14.png","title":"Nathan Filer on why we must reimagine mental healthcare ","id":"593"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/491\/491.png","title":"Becoming female: Chaye's transition","id":"491"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/487\/487.jpg","title":"Boys don't cry: Talking mental health in the barbershop","id":"487"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/479\/479.jpg","title":"Breaking the taboo: Mental health in immigrant communities ","id":"479"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/477\/477.jpg","title":"Feeling lonely? You're not alone","id":"477"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/475\/475.jpg","title":"The challenges of mental health services for Chinese-Australians","id":"475"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/385\/quino-al-225747-unsplash.jpg","title":"Mental health in professional women's sport deserves a seat at the podium","id":"468"}]},{"issue":"Violence","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screen Shot 2020-08-09 at 6.57.14 pm.png","title":" Supporting Lebanese Victims: A decimated capital as the economy collapses ","id":"773"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/535\/posts\/474\/474.jpg","title":"Project Coffee gives Chinese international students a safe space to say #MeToo","id":"474"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/340\/340_thumb.jpg","title":"'Me too.'","id":"340"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/312\/312_thumb.jpg","title":"No short-term solution for domestic violence","id":"312"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/245\/245_thumb.jpg","title":"Keeping the bastards honest: Why every university campus needs a Women\u2019s Collective","id":"245"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/159\/159_thumb.jpg","title":"Changing the space of gender inequality","id":"159"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/261\/261_thumb.jpg","title":"Why representation in the #MeToo movement matters","id":"261"}]},{"issue":"Refugees","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/377\/377_thumb.jpg","title":"Your Tradie Has A Story: Hedayat Osyan's Social Enterprise","id":"377"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/371\/371_thumb.jpg","title":"Rural Australians for refugees: an enduring model of support?","id":"371"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/345\/345_thumb.jpg","title":"Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children","id":"345"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/342\/342_thumb.jpg","title":"Crocheting Dissent","id":"342"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/293\/293_thumb.jpg","title":"Waters skills are a universal life saver","id":"293"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/270\/270_thumb.jpg","title":"House of Welcome","id":"270"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/241\/241_thumb.jpg","title":"GROW: A mental health initiative for Australia's refugees","id":"241"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/243\/243_thumb.jpg","title":"All We Can't See: Humanising the untold stories of Nauru","id":"243"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/178\/178_thumb.jpg","title":"Benita de Wit's Manus Island Project","id":"178"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/155\/155_thumb.jpg","title":"For some refugees, art can make all the difference","id":"155"}]},{"issue":"Women","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screen Shot 2021-08-05 at 3.26.26 am.png","title":"Up-close Lena Cruz on The Unusual Suspects, Filipino culture and stardom","id":"809"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/image006.jpg","title":"Garment workers paying the price for fast fashion industry's COVID-19 collapse","id":"790"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-24 13.38.14.png","title":"Revolutionising period education with Bright Girl Health ","id":"661"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/500\/500.jpg","title":"The culture of women and pain in Australia ","id":"500"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"}]},{"issue":"Technology","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-21 10.45.25.png","title":"Experts offer unexpected solutions on how to increase public compliance and prevent a second wave of COVID-19","id":"674"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/454\/posts\/480\/480.jpg","title":"Urban farming creates solutions for sustainable produce","id":"480"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/368\/368_thumb.jpg","title":"Blockchain: A new era of trust?","id":"368"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/364\/364_thumb.jpg","title":"Asian Australian art goes online","id":"364"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/344\/344_thumb.jpg","title":"The Facebook group delivering a hug in a box to struggling farmers","id":"344"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/167\/167_thumb.jpg","title":"Minerva uses data science to increase social impact","id":"167"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/264\/264_thumb.jpg","title":"Homelessness and digital inclusion","id":"264"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/112\/112_thumb.jpg","title":"A Woman Reimagining the Limits of Science: Kelly Wong","id":"112"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/125\/125_thumb.jpg","title":"Access to water should be democratic","id":"125"}]},{"issue":"Disability","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Daisy and Casper at trial appointment.jpg","title":"A contentious experimental drug offers opportunity to children living with achondroplasia","id":"791"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/495\/495.png","title":"Rehearsal for revolution: How theatre can improve disability healthcare ","id":"495"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/473\/473.png","title":"Surviving meningococcal septicaemia: Ripu\u2019s story ","id":"473"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/376\/376_thumb.jpg","title":"Does NDIS address the needs of traumatic brain injury thrivers?","id":"376"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/127\/127_thumb.jpg","title":"Skeletons and Self-Portraits: Emily Dash challenges representations of gender and disability","id":"127"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/100\/100_thumb.jpg","title":"Reading By Ear: 2RPH brings print media to life","id":"100"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/90\/90_thumb.jpg","title":"The Many Faces of Ableism","id":"90"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/229\/229_thumb.jpg","title":"Voices from the Fringes to the Heart of Advocacy: Centring lived experience","id":"229"}]},{"issue":"Homelessness","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-05-07 11.04.47.png","title":"How are Australian charities adapting to pandemic conditions? ","id":"734"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/469\/469.jpg","title":"A home for girls without a home ","id":"469"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/360\/360_thumb.jpg","title":"On My Feet: A unique approach to homelessness","id":"360"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/253\/253_thumb.jpg","title":"A conversation with Orange Sky Laundry founders Nick Marchesi and Lucas Patchett","id":"253"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/227\/227_thumb.jpg","title":"Community gardening as therapy with Street Growth","id":"227"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/258\/258_thumb.jpg","title":"Indigenous disadvantage hits home","id":"258"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/264\/264_thumb.jpg","title":"Homelessness and digital inclusion","id":"264"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"}]},{"issue":"Youth","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/469\/469.jpg","title":"A home for girls without a home ","id":"469"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/366\/366_thumb.jpg","title":"Championing children to reduce food waste","id":"366"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/345\/345_thumb.jpg","title":"Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children","id":"345"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/335\/335_thumb.jpg","title":"The Sydney Story Factory teaches marginalised youth the art of storytelling","id":"335"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/312\/312_thumb.jpg","title":"No short-term solution for domestic violence","id":"312"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/116\/116_thumb.jpg","title":"Beyond Adelaide's Fringe Festival: Girl Space and Sanaa","id":"116"}]},{"issue":"Arts & Culture","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 8.25.15 pm.png","title":"Suzy Wrong of Hungry Ghosts on why we need more powerhouse roles for trans women on Australian television","id":"775"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/388\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-16 13.36.30.png","title":"Australian reading hour: Rediscovering the joys of reading ","id":"584"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/497\/497.png","title":"Bankstown Poetry Slam: A powerhouse of performance poetry ","id":"497"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/495\/495.png","title":"Rehearsal for revolution: How theatre can improve disability healthcare ","id":"495"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/364\/364_thumb.jpg","title":"Asian Australian art goes online","id":"364"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"}]},{"issue":"Cost of Living","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/image006.jpg","title":"Garment workers paying the price for fast fashion industry's COVID-19 collapse","id":"790"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/378\/posts\/471\/471.png","title":"Lentil As Anything","id":"471"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/29\/29_thumb.jpg","title":"#WeLiveHere2017: Fighting for the Towers One Post at a Time","id":"29"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/28\/28_thumb.jpg","title":"A Violent Solution To The Housing Crisis","id":"28"}]},{"issue":"Human Rights","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/image006.jpg","title":"Garment workers paying the price for fast fashion industry's COVID-19 collapse","id":"790"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/pablo-padilla-B0U_OFXXSNo-unsplash.jpg","title":"Bending the Bars marks forty years of the dicriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria","id":"786"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/mick image.jpg","title":"Bloody hard work: Reforms and regulations desperately needed to solve farming labour crisis","id":"784"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-05-15 13.47.59.png","title":"'Now is the time for empathy\u2019: new virtual museum to explore the UN\u2019s Human Rights declaration","id":"737"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/democracypendemic.png","title":"What does it mean to be a democracy during a pandemic?","id":"736"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-20 11.07.15.png","title":"Experts weigh in on what makes an effective protest ","id":"659"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-25 17.27.51.png","title":"Denying Asylum Seekers Medical Treatment \u2013 the Medevac law","id":"586"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/486\/486.jpg","title":"Fighting to end slavery in the 21st century ","id":"486"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"}]},{"issue":"Alcohol & Drugs","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/mona-miller-EfUwk0C3RE8-unsplash.jpg","title":"Australia, we need to talk about our drinking problem. ","id":"772"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/300\/300_thumb.jpg","title":"Read the Vibe: the fight to keep Newtown weird, safe and unapologetically queer","id":"300"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/296\/296_thumb.jpg","title":"Court for Cannabis: The fight for a chronic cure","id":"296"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/269\/269_thumb.jpg","title":"What would drug decriminalisation do to Australia?","id":"269"}]},{"issue":"Employment","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/377\/377_thumb.jpg","title":"Your Tradie Has A Story: Hedayat Osyan's Social Enterprise","id":"377"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/371\/371_thumb.jpg","title":"Rural Australians for refugees: an enduring model of support?","id":"371"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/360\/360_thumb.jpg","title":"On My Feet: A unique approach to homelessness","id":"360"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/241\/241_thumb.jpg","title":"GROW: A mental health initiative for Australia's refugees","id":"241"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/109\/109_thumb.jpg","title":"Online vs. Campus: Which degree is getting us further in the career ladder?","id":"109"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/131\/131_thumb.jpg","title":"Female garment workers have their voices heard in new documentary","id":"131"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/238\/238_thumb.jpg","title":"Travelling the world on Addison Road","id":"238"}]},{"issue":"Housing","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/265\/265_thumb.jpg","title":"Deciding To Make A Difference","id":"265"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/29\/29_thumb.jpg","title":"#WeLiveHere2017: Fighting for the Towers One Post at a Time","id":"29"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/28\/28_thumb.jpg","title":"A Violent Solution To The Housing Crisis","id":"28"}]},{"issue":"Policy","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/image006.jpg","title":"Garment workers paying the price for fast fashion industry's COVID-19 collapse","id":"790"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/mick image.jpg","title":"Bloody hard work: Reforms and regulations desperately needed to solve farming labour crisis","id":"784"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/ANU EH.png","title":"Life not as you know it for Australia's international student community","id":"765"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-21 10.45.25.png","title":"Experts offer unexpected solutions on how to increase public compliance and prevent a second wave of COVID-19","id":"674"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-20 11.07.15.png","title":"Experts weigh in on what makes an effective protest ","id":"659"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-19 15.36.50.png","title":"Climate Act Now ","id":"657"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/438\/posts\/504\/504.jpg","title":"A Brief History of Climate Terminology","id":"504"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/503\/503.jpg","title":"Jews for Palestine: In conversation with Naama Carlin","id":"503"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/486\/486.jpg","title":"Fighting to end slavery in the 21st century ","id":"486"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"}]},{"issue":"Multiculturalism","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screen Shot 2021-08-05 at 3.26.26 am.png","title":"Up-close Lena Cruz on The Unusual Suspects, Filipino culture and stardom","id":"809"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/ANU EH.png","title":"Life not as you know it for Australia's international student community","id":"765"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/503\/503.jpg","title":"Jews for Palestine: In conversation with Naama Carlin","id":"503"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/502\/502.jpg","title":"Multicultural Care","id":"502"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/497\/497.png","title":"Bankstown Poetry Slam: A powerhouse of performance poetry ","id":"497"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"}]},{"issue":"Men's Health","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/pablo-padilla-B0U_OFXXSNo-unsplash.jpg","title":"Bending the Bars marks forty years of the dicriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria","id":"786"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/487\/487.jpg","title":"Boys don't cry: Talking mental health in the barbershop","id":"487"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/369\/369_thumb.jpg","title":"The power of the mo: How Movember is saving men's lives","id":"369"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/367\/367_thumb.jpg","title":"#YesAllMen must take responsibility for the darker side of masculinity","id":"367"}]},{"issue":"Sex","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/pablo-padilla-B0U_OFXXSNo-unsplash.jpg","title":"Bending the Bars marks forty years of the dicriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria","id":"786"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/stories\/250\/250_thumb.jpg","title":"Sex workers face financial discrimination","id":"250"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/95\/95_thumb.jpg","title":"Sex workers speaking for themselves","id":"95"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/31\/31_thumb.jpg","title":"Is This Real Life Project","id":"31"}]},{"issue":"Discrimination","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/image006.jpg","title":"Garment workers paying the price for fast fashion industry's COVID-19 collapse","id":"790"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/mick image.jpg","title":"Bloody hard work: Reforms and regulations desperately needed to solve farming labour crisis","id":"784"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/ANU EH.png","title":"Life not as you know it for Australia's international student community","id":"765"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-28 18.59.39.png","title":"Strategic white tears: An interview with Ruby Hamad","id":"602"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/219\/219_thumb.jpg","title":"What is sexual racism?","id":"219"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/stories\/250\/250_thumb.jpg","title":"Sex workers face financial discrimination","id":"250"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/268\/268_thumb.jpg","title":"The pay gap bowl-out in women's sports","id":"268"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/123\/123_thumb.jpg","title":"Sexual racism: Why do you swipe right?","id":"123"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/130\/130_thumb.jpg","title":"No to 'not all...'","id":"130"}]},{"issue":"Vaping","articles":[]}]

;

Story

Is This Real Life Project

Stories/31 , Issues/Sex , Issues/Women

Sydney NSW, Australia

15th Jun 2017

Using photography and written word, Aimee explores how resisting socially sanctioned understandings of normalcy, beauty and female pleasure inspired her collaborative photography community the Is This Real Life Project.

We live in a society that is utterly saturated in curated images and ideals of typical beauty and sexiness; the slim, European featured, cisgendered, heteronormative concept of beauty and sexuality has been the main narrative for generations. This is enforced, and our bodies are policed in a myriad of ways both obvious and subtle, from female and non-cis bodies being used as a battleground in politics to white feminism dominating and ignoring the voices of non-binary, non-white females.

We are flooded with images of what it is to be "normal" and "beautiful" from industries that desperately need to redefine their definitions of both normalcy and beauty. Australian censorship laws prevent female porn stars from having a visible labia, so they are digitally removed. In this way, prepubescent vulvas are represented as the "norm" which has resulted in a significant rise in labiaplasty procedures in this country. Violent pornography and grossly gendered popular culture encourages a "boys will be boys" mentality, perpetuating insidious rape culture.

While young girls are taught that their pleasure is irrelevant as long as they are desirable to men, women's personal journeys of wanting to seek (knowing that we deserve) genuine pleasure are ignored. Non-cis people are excluded almost entirely from mainstream conversations surrounding sexuality, body positivity, relationships and feminism. Female bodies are stripped of autonomy, our parts used to sell products and insecurity; an insecurity that fuels buying the very products our bodies are being used to sell. It's a twisted system - one which once seen, cannot be unseen!

"The most vulnerable I feel is when I'm naked or during a panic attack. When I have panic attacks, there's a voice in my head telling me I'm weak, ugly and worthless. This picture is me fighting those voices."

It is human nature to be curious about sexuality, bodies and gender - we are fascinated by these elements of humanity from childhood yet our curiosities are often met with embarrassment from parents, outdated curriculums at school and a widespread unwillingness in adults to speak openly to our children about these parts of ourselves. Compounding this, our first sexual experience is with....the internet. From an inappropriately young age, we are flooded with images and videos that reveal a dark and violent side of sex and nudity. Autonomy over our bodies and sexuality are derailed by industries that profit from our dysfunction. It disturbed me that female bodies have become a conglomeration of parts which are used to sell ideas, products and insecurity. It disturbed me that our bodies were plastered all over billboards, yet the images we choose to take of ourselves on our own terms are deemed inappropriate.

"You say you hate me but you still use me for recreation."

But while this is still the norm in mainstream society, I believe we now have more opportunity to reclaim and represent a wider range of bodies, genders, faces and sexuality - while mainstream media and the narratives it has perpetuated for so long are bigger and more influential than ever, so too is social media. This is an incredible tool for diverse connection.

The day I became completely disenchanted by these images of typical femininity and beauty, I put some videos into the Insta-sphere expressing my feelings and asking if anyone would be interested in collaborating on a photographic project. To my surprise, hundred of people responded and this was the birth place of Is This Real Life Project!

Together we asked: where can we see real intimacy? Real lovemaking? Real pleasure? Where can we see people in their power facilitating their own pleasure knowing that they deserve it? When I opened the space up for people to contact me with their experiences and why they wanted to be involved in the Is This Real Life project, I realised how much these issues resonate with others.

"It took me a large portion of my life to accept that, as a male, I am beautiful. I am allowed to feel beautiful. It doesn't mean handsome or strong, or good looking; it's accepted to be those things as a man. But being vulnerable and expressive of that deep feminine beauty that everyone has was something I always felt emasculated me. Now I know otherwise. That expression is deeply needed for true self-love and healing."

We narrowed down our vision, which is now to create a safe space where people of all shapes, genders, sexualities, sizes, abilities and skin colours can share part of their real selves and for other people to witness that realness- to share true moments of beauty, vulnerability, pain, sensuality, intimacy, bodies and life in general. By collaborating with hundred of people around the world, we are now creating a collection of images that represent these things.

The goal is for each contributor to feel powerful and for the viewers' concepts of what is beautiful, sexy and intimate to be challenged by each story and image. People have shared stories about self-harm, non-binary sex, body positivity and discovering themselves as sexual and non-sexual beings. It has been such an exciting and liberating experience for contributors that we hope to take it to a larger scale. We aim to compile our images into a zine and facilitate an exhibition that will hopefully take the conversation even further.

"We live in a society where my self worth is defined by my weight. I would like to believe that is shifting."

The Is This Real Life Project page has received messages from around the world, from people expressing how important the page has become to their journey towards self-love. It's an incredibly empowering movement, and I am so looking forward to seeing where we may end up.

"The naked body. Nudity. Showing too much skin. My whole life has all been seen as bad. I was taught it was bad. That's slutty. I've always strived to cover up and be "modest". Any time I would see a female dressed showing "too much skin", I would automatically think "wow gross she's such a slut". Showing too much skin or seeing someone naked was always so awkward because of the way I was taught. As I got older, I started to be around/see a lot more openminded people. I started following people online who embraced nudity as something beautiful rather than just something pornographic. Over time, I read the descriptions of the pictures they would post. The things they said were so empowering. Sharing how the body is beautiful. It should be shown off, not hidden. It should be loved, not hurt. Their pictures and descriptions inspired me. Their lives inspired me. I've never in my life posted a picture online that showed "too much skin". I'm doing this for anyone else who was raised to think their gorgeous body should be hidden."

See the bigger picture

What you're saying Issues Nearby

Become part of the QUOmmunity

Join Now

By signing up, you agree to The QUO’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

{"lat":"-33.8688197","lng":"151.20929550000005"}

There are currently no ${type} listed. Start promoting your ${type} with us by signing up to one of our subscription plans!

Your support keeps our unique approach to independent journalism accessible to everyone. Support independent media

Support independent media

Your support keeps our unique approach to independent journalism accessible to everyone.

No matter how small your donation amount is, rest assured that it will make a difference to us.

Support Us

"My colour for the day is red."

"The most vulnerable I feel is when I'm naked or during a panic attack. When I have panic attacks, there's a voice in my head telling me I'm weak, ugly and worthless. This picture is me fighting those voices."

"You say you hate me but you still use me for recreation."

"We live in a society where my self worth is defined by my weight. I would like to believe that is shifting."

Insights, updates and hot takes, straight to your inbox, every month

See the bigger picture

Become part of the QUOmmunity

Your support keeps our unique approach to independent journalism accessible to everyone. Support independent media

Support independent media